A meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 25 at 6 pm in the Media Center of the High School for all those students who have signed up to participate on the Bass Fishing Team this year. Parents should plan on attending to complete necessary documents for students to be able to participate on the fishing team.
Masks are required during the entire meeting, and we will be social distancing by family.
Thank you to everyone who completed the survey. Based on your input, the GCSSD School Board voted to go with Option 5 (All students at home on Fridays for the first nine weeks). We had 2,108 survey responses in less than 24 hours.
This option will allow our staff additional time to build out lessons that will be used for the Digital Learning Academy. Off-campus learning on Fridays will not start until 8/28 and will continue through 10/16. Teachers will work with their students to give them assignments that they will need to complete while they are at home on Fridays. This could be through the Learning Management System or through instructional materials that are sent home. We understand that not all students have a device at home or internet access. Teachers will provide instructional materials for all students to ensure learning continues on Friday. Additionally, on Fridays until 10/16, students meals will be offered for parent pick-up and home delivery.
I know this is a major change. However, when we were originally developing the Digital Learning Academy in mid-July, we had 280 students enrolled. Once the decision was made to wear masks, our numbers increased to 650. At that point, the plan we had in place for 280 students was not possible. Therefore, we had to think through how best to manage the difficult situation we found ourselves in. Again, thank you for filling out the survey and helping us with that difficult decision. We also appreciate your patience as we try to ensure all students continue to learn. We are so proud of our staff as they continue to rise to the occasion to ensure each student at GCSSD has all their needs met.
Eddie Pruett
Temporary Procedural Changes Due to COVID-19:
1. Students taking online dual enrollment may do their coursework at home during the block the dual enrollment course is assigned on their schedule. Although, they may need to remain on campus for the first week of school to complete paperwork required for the Dual Enrollment Grant. Students choosing to leave campus to do online dual enrollment at home will not be able to check out a laptop. Students arriving at school after the beginning of first block must report to the main office to sign in. Students will have their temperature checked upon arrival. Students leaving during the school day must follow the appropriate sign-out and return sign-in procedures. Students leaving during the school day who are transporting other students or riding with another student must complete a driver/passenger form to do so.
2. Students in the Digital Learning Academy participating in an extra-curricular activity (band, athletics, theater, and chorus) may still participate in these activities during and after the school day. Should the student choose to participate during the school day they will need to sign in and sign out through the main office. Students will need to provide their own transportation. Students will have their temperature checked upon arrival.
3. Students in the Digital Learning Academy participating in certain CTE courses (Advanced Manufacturing 1 and 2, Industrial Maintenance 1 and 2, MLR 1 and 2, Dual Enrollment MLR 1 and 2, Fundamentals of Construction, Residential and Commercial Construction 1 and 2, Dual Enrollment Welding 1, 2, and 3, Culinary Arts 1 and 2, Dual Enrollment Culinary Arts 1 and 2, Ag Power and Equipment, and Nursing Education) will be required to come on campus for those courses and will then be allowed to leave. Students in WBL Practicum (formerly Clinical Internship) will need to come on campus one day per week to complete the skills portion of the course. This day will be determined by the teacher. Students will need to sign in and sign out through the main office. Students will need to provide their own transportation. Students will have their temperature checked upon arrival. If students choosing not to come on campus for these courses will have their schedules changed.
4. Students in the Digital Learning Academy with an IEP will be allowed to come on campus to receive some of their services as scheduled through the special education dept. Should the student choose to come on campus during the school day they will need to sign in and sign out through the main office. Students will need to provide their own transportation. Students will have their temperature checked upon arrival.
5. Students in the Digital Learning Academy enrolled in the SAILS math course must come on campus during their assigned block to take tests. The SAILS program requires that tests be monitored by the assigned teacher of the course. Students will need to sign in and sign out through the main office. Students will need to provide their own transportation. Students will have their temperature checked upon arrival. If students choose not to come on campus for the SAILS tests will have their schedules changed.
The COVID-19 releasing household contacts from isolation & quarantine has been updated. This is a major change. Please review page 15 of the Reopening Plan at: https://5il.co/i86m
The board is requesting feedback to help determine the option they take to give teachers additional planning time, to be used to develop digital learning content, during the first nine weeks. We realize that the decision will impact families and the board wanted to get your feedback. The board votes on 8/18 so we apologize for the quick turnaround.
Option 1 - School will be dismissed at 2 each day. (first 9 weeks)
Option 2 - Students will dismiss at 11:30 on Fridays. (first 9 weeks)
Option 3 - Students will attend Fridays on an A/B schedule. (every other Friday for the first 9 weeks)
Option 4 - Students attending is optional on Fridays. Families that do not have childcare can register for them to attend. Students that do not attend will use the learning management system. (first 9 weeks)
Option 5 - All students will stay home on Fridays and use the learning management system. (first 9 weeks)
Link to survey: https://forms.gle/ZT6caVHfkvCspMB39
The board is requesting feedback to help determine the option they take to give teachers additional planning time, to be used to develop digital learning content, during the first nine weeks. We realize that the decision will impact families and the board wanted to get your feedback. The board votes on 8/18 so we apologize for the quick turnaround.
Option 1 - School will be dismissed at 2 each day. (first 9 weeks)
Option 2 - Students will dismiss at 11:30 on Fridays. (first 9 weeks)
Option 3 - Students will attend Fridays on an A/B schedule. (every other Friday for the first 9 weeks)
Option 4 - Students attending is optional on Fridays. Families that do not have childcare can register for them to attend. Students that do not attend will use the learning management system. (first 9 weeks)
Option 5 - All students will stay home and use the learning management system. (first 9 weeks)
Link to survey: https://forms.gle/ZT6caVHfkvCspMB39
Football game vs Lexington
If you have purchased tickets for the Lexington football game Friday night, you can pick up those tickets at SGCHS Tuesday night, August 18 from 7pm-8pm. The remaining 28 tickets will also be on sale. In order to purchase these tickets please have the exact cash or you may pay with a check.
SGCHS was made aware today of a student-athlete who tested positive for COVID over the weekend. This student did not report to school today. We have taken appropriate action with the contacts. Our school district follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Tennessee Department of Health guidelines for the management of individuals who have been diagnosed with, or exposed to, COVID-19. We want to make sure we keep you informed as much as possible. We will provide updates should there be future situations.
Reminders for First Day of School:
• First day of school for on-campus students is August 17! SGCHS will open the building at 7:15am. Car drivers will be dismissed at 11:10am. Bus riders and car riders will be dismissed at 11:30am.
• For student drivers and car riders, we would prefer that you arrive as close to 7:45 as possible to allow maximum spacing for those students that ride buses or arrive earlier.
• 9th and 10th graders will report to the gym upon arrival, and 11th and 12th graders will report to the cafetorium upon arrival.
• Masks must be worn at all times unless instructed otherwise covering the nose and mouth.
• When the bell rings at 7:45am on , all freshmen and new students will stay in the gym. All upperclassmen and returning students will report to their homeroom.
• Breakfast and Lunch will not be served.
• Water fountains have been disconnected. Please bring water from home in an appropriate container.
Traffic flow
No personal vehicles should use the drive in front of gym doors. This is for buses only. Also, no personal vehicles should enter the center entrance. It is for buses only.
For vehicles dropping students off at school, please use the south entrance and drive in front of main building. Drop students off in the front of the flag pole. You will exit parking lot using center drive. Students will enter through gym doors.
For student drivers you will need to enter the parking areas as follows:
To park in the lower lot by the stadium or out from the gym, use the north entrance closest to football practice field.
To park in back by Field House, Band Room, or Ag Shop use the south entrance that takes you to back of building or the north entrance that brings you between football stadium and gym.
We are going to need you to be patient and cooperative as we implement our new procedures and expectations designed to keep everyone as safe as possible.
We look forward to seeing our Hornet Family and are excited for the 2020-2021 school year!
GCSSD on-campus instruction will start Monday, August 17, at a Level 3. Students will be required to wear a mask.
Digital Learning Academy start date has been moved to August 24, 2020 to allow teachers more time to prepare content.
We are excited for the start of school! Please continue to follow COVID-19 CDC guidelines to help us work together to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of students, teachers, staff, their families, and communities.
- Stay away from work, school, or other people if you become sick
- Wear your mask in public
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
- Sneeze or cough? Cover your mouth
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily
These are the most important actions that will support schools safe reopening and will help them stay open.
https://youtu.be/z067y5-KUQI
Morning Bus Routes:
Morning bus routes will run 10 minutes later than they did last year except for Kerri Johnson's route. Please look at the bus schedule on the district website and add 10 minutes to the morning pickups.
Digital Learning Academy Handbook Link:
https://5il.co/j8et
First Day of School at SGCHS:
On Monday, August 17th SGCHS will open the building at 7:15am. Please do not drop off students prior to 7:15 each morning. Additionally, car drivers will be dismissed at 11:10am and bus riders and car riders will be dismissed at 11:30am on Monday. We appreciate your cooperation as we begin another great school year!
Open House
After careful consideration, SGCHS will not have an open house this year for upcoming freshmen or new students. We will have a plan in place on the first day for these students to get acclimated to our building. We understand that some students might be anxious about finding their classrooms and getting familiarized with the building. However, we will have a plan in place to get them to their homeroom teacher first thing Monday morning to share with them where to go and what to do. We appreciate your understanding during this time. We look forward to a great school year!
Digital Learners:
If you have signed up for the Digital Learning Academy, you may come to SGCHS to pick up textbooks on Wednesday, August 12 from 10am-2pm.
The Digital Learning Academy Handbook is now available for DL students and parents to review. Please click the link below to access. A timeline is available within the document to ensure all DL students are ready to begin August 17, 2020!
https://5il.co/j8et
The Digital Learning Academy Handbook is now available for DL students and parents to review. Please click the link below to access. A timeline is available within the document to ensure all DL students are ready to begin August 17, 2020!
https://5il.co/j8et
Parents, we are giving students the opportunity to request a schedule change beginning tomorrow, August 10th, using the same procedure we use every year. The schedule change request form will be posted on SGC’s website tomorrow. If your request meets the stated criteria, your request will be reviewed for change. If your request can not be accommodated, your schedule will not be changed. Please be sure to include the student’s e-mail so if further communication needs to occur, someone can get in touch with your child. Please note that this is the only form of course change requests that will be reviewed. Previous e-mails, phone calls and text messages will not be reviewed for course changes. The deadline to complete the schedule change form will be Wednesday, August 19.
Hornet Fans,
As we prepare for a return to athletics, plans have been put in place to ensure the safety and health of all participants and fans during games. These plans include changes to what gameday will look like. The following is information regarding gameday procedures for football:
• The number of tickets available for each game will be limited. Reserved seats, season tickets, and individual game tickets will still be available. Information regarding reserved seats and season tickets will be made available soon.
• Individual game tickets will be sold through an online/digital format only. Information about how to purchase individual game tickets will be made available. Cash will not be accepted for the purchase of individual game tickets.
• Temperature checks will be required for each person for admittance. This will be done as you enter the stadium. Those with a temperature of 100.4 or above will not be allowed into the stadium.
• Masks will be required for entry.
• Fans will be expected to practice social distancing at all times while in the stadium. Family groups will be asked to sit together and distance from other fans.
• Fans are asked not to congregate in the areas around the field.
• Concessions will be limited to the sale of drinks, candy, and prepackaged items. Please maintain a safe distance while in line.
As always, we are extremely thankful for the support shown to our school and students. These plans have been implemented in conjunction with TSSAA in order to provide an opportunity for our students to have a safe and successful football season. We ask for your patience and cooperation as we all try our best to navigate this challenging time.
Digital Learning Academy Device Request:
A limited number of devices are being provided for DL Academy students who do not have access to a device. The devices are to be used to engage in learning activities provided by teachers. If your student needs a device in order to participate in the Digital Learning Academy please contact Kary Parchman at parchmank@gcssd.org by Monday, August 10 at 12:00 noon and include the information below within the email. Devices will be loaned out for Digital Learning Academy students only and priority will be based according to the students meal eligibility status for the 2020-21SY. All aspects of District Policy 4.406 and the Responsible Use of Technologies applies to the use of the device and Internet access. Forms will be signed upon pickup to ensure guidelines are being followed when using the equipment along with a digital learning release permission form.
Information to include in Digital Learning Academy device request email:
- Student first and last name
- Student enrolled school
- Student grade
- Other students in the household that are Digital Learning Academy students
Currently we have roughly 100 students who have either not started or not completed the yearly registration process through parent portal. Registration must be completed even if the student has chosen the Digital Learning Academy. This yearly registration through parent portal must be completed by Monday, August 10. Please contact the main office if you have any questions.